Ranking the Regional Champions by Class
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We are down to just 16 teams remaining in the 112th annual IHSAA Boy’s Basketball State Tournament. Teams will head to Elkhart, Lafayette, Washington, and Seymour on Saturday for the respective Semi-State games for each class. People really seemed to…
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Continue ReadingWe are down to just 16 teams remaining in the 112th annual IHSAA Boy’s Basketball State Tournament. Teams will head to Elkhart, Lafayette, Washington, and Seymour on Saturday for the respective Semi-State games for each class. People really seemed to like the ranking of Sectional champions last week, so back by popular demand, we will be ranking the regional champions as well. Let’s dive on in.
Class 1A
Gary 21st Century has been a state title favorite all year long and they are still standing here in the Class 1A Final Four. Led by Ashton Williamson Ashton Williamson 6'2" | PG Gary 21st Century | 2023 State #287 Nation IN , D.J. Moss D.J. Moss 6'4" | SF Gary 21st Century | 2023 State IN , and Quintin Floyd Quintin Floyd 6'4" | SG Gary 21st Century | 2023 State IN the Cougars have the most talent of any team remaining in their bracket.
Team |
Record |
Semi-State Matchup |
1. Gary 21st Century | 23-4 | Lafayette Central Catholic @ Lafayette Jefferson |
2. North Daviess | 25-3 | Jac-Cen-Del @ Seymour |
3. Lafayette Central Catholic | 19-9 | Gary 21st Century @ Lafayette Jefferson |
4. Jac-Cen-Del | 22-5 | North Daviess @ Seymour |
Class 2A
Unfortunately, the likely two best teams remaining in Class 2A will face-off in the Elkhart Semi-State. Wisconsin signee Connor Essegian Connor Essegian 6'4" | SG Central Noble | 2022 State #170 Nation IN is the featured prospect for Central Noble who will likely provide the necessary firepower to get to Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Team |
Record |
Semi-State Matchup |
1. Central Noble | 27-2 | Carroll (Flora) @ Elkhart |
2. Carroll (Flora) | 24-1 | Central Noble @ Elkhart |
3. Eastern Hancock | 22-5 | Providence @ Seymour |
4. Providence | 19-6 | Eastern Hancock @ Seymour |
Class 3A
Class 3A is wide open at this point. All of these teams, especially the top three, are legitimate state title contenders. Marian features an excellent backcourt in Deaglan Sullivan Deaglan Sullivan 6'2" | PG Mishawaka Marian | 2023 State IN and Richard Brooks Richard Brooks 6'3" | SF Mishawaka Marian | 2022 State IN . Conversely, Caedmon Bontrager Caedmon Bontrager 6'8" | PF Leo | 2022 State IN and D.J. Allen D.J. Allen 6'7" | PF Leo | 2022 State IN give Leo one of the best front courts in the state. Sullivan’s Randy Kelley Randy Kelley 6'0" | PG Sullivan | 2022 State IN is on an incredible run of buzzer beaters and Beech Grove is playing their best basketball of the season. This will be a fun final four to follow.
Team |
Record |
Semi-State Matchup |
1. Mishawaka Marian | 23-3 | Leo @ Elkhart |
2. Leo | 21-5 | Mishawaka Marian @ Elkhart |
3. Sullivan | 25-2 | Beech Grove @ Washington |
4. Beech Grove | 20-6 | Sullivan @ Washington |
Class 4A
Cathedral has been playing like the best team in the state for a few weeks now. The Fighting Irish were extremely impressive in the Regional championship game against Ben Davis where 6’11″ junior Xavier Booker Xavier Booker 6'11" | PF Cathedral | 2023 State #4 Nation IN absolutely dominated on both ends of the floor. Chesterton is still undefeated and deserves to be considered a favorite until someone can actually knock them off. Bloomington North, led by JaQualon Roberts JaQualon Roberts 6'8" | PF Bloomington North | 2023 State IN , and Kokomo, led by Flory Bidunga Flory Bidunga 6'9" | C Kokomo | 2024 State #7 Nation IN , are playing very well at the right time too.
Team |
Record |
Semi-State Matchup |
1. Cathedral | 24-6 | Bloomington North @ Washington |
2. Chesterton | 28-0 | Kokomo @ Lafayette Jefferson |
3. Bloomington North | 24-3 | Cathedral @ Washington |
4. Kokomo | 19-7 | Chesterton @ Lafayette Jefferson |